Ähtäri Zoo

Ähtäri Zoo

Brown bear at Ähtäri
Date opened 1973[1]
Location Ähtäri, Finland
Coordinates 62°32′20″N 024°10′34″E / 62.53889°N 24.17611°ECoordinates: 62°32′20″N 024°10′34″E / 62.53889°N 24.17611°E
Land area 60 hectares (150 acres)[1]
Number of animals 300[1]
Number of species 60+[1]
Memberships EAZA[2]
Website www.ahtarinelainpuisto.fi/in_english

Ähtäri Zoo is a 60-hectare (150-acre) zoo in Ähtäri, Finland that was opened in 1973. It is the second largest zoo in Finland, and is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).

History

Köpi the moose was the first animal at the zoo. After several years, wolves and lynxes were added. However the zoo's most famous residents are probably the bears, Santeri and his mate Santra, who have lived at the zoo almost since its founding. In 2003 the Korkeasaari Zoo in Helsinki gifted snow leopards to Ähtäri Zoo for their 30th year anniversary. By 2006 there were 65 animals, mostly from the coniferous zone.[1]

Since its establishment, one goal of the Ähtäri Zoo has been to create natural living conditions for the animals. The 60-hectare (150-acre) area, in which the terrain and vegetation vary widely, has provided excellent opportunities to implement EAZAs basic ideas about how to treat animals in captivity. In addition, the zoo tries to increase knowledge of species and nature, and to share educational information with the public.[1]

Animals

Animals at the zoo include snow leopards, wolves, bears, wolverines, lynx, foxes, otters, beavers, European bison, wild boar, roe deer, fallow deer, reindeer, white-tailed deer, snowy owls, eagle owls, and waterfowl.[3]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Ähtäri Zoo". ahtarinelainpuisto.fi. Ähtäri Zoo. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  2. ↑ "EAZA Member Zoos & Aquariums". eaza.net. EAZA. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  3. ↑ "Ähtäri Zoo Map". ahtarinelainpuisto.fi. Ähtäri Zoo. Retrieved 6 February 2011.

External links